Watch | Italian sailor uses mouth-to-mouth to revive kitten

An Italian sailor rescued a kitten by giving it mouth to mouth. (YouTube)

MILAN (AP) — The Italian coast guard has rescued and revived a drowning kitten at a Sicilian port, after children on shore drew attention to its plight.

A sailor jumped in the sea to rescue the cat, which was floating apparently lifeless in the water, as the coast guard ship entered Marsala port from a patrol mission.

A video released Friday showed crew members administering mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and massaging the kitten to remove water from its lungs, encouraging it: "Breathe, breathe. Wake up." After a few minutes, the kitten emitted a few weak "meows."

A veterinarian on shore says the kitten is now in good health. He has been given a home at the Marsala maritime district office and has been named Charlie.